The issue isn't really about whether or not they should leave. The issue is about whether or not the rest of the country should be allowed to stop them.
When phrased like that, I have no choice but to support their bid for independence. No matter how incredibly stupid and ultimately self-destructive it may be.

Yes, by all means, let us support the poor downtrodden "pur et dur" quebecois in their valiant struggle. They have been... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 7:28 AM on November 18, 2005

You know what's funny?

During the 1990's many Americans (all you WTO protestors can excuse yourselves) were high on the benefits of globalization. Because it was benefiting the good 'ol USA.
Remember that stock market boom?

Now that the rewards of the global economy are starting to trickle down to places like Brazil and China everyone seems less keen. Hmm . . . where's Pat Buchanan when you need him to run for President?
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 4:06 PM on March 25, 2004

This is a terrible blow to beef producers in the United States.

In Canada we had one case of BSE, and it cost the industry C$3.3 billion. And before any of you smirky, militant, vegetarian types start rubbing your hands together with glee, remember the impact that has on small farmers, truckers, and assorted industries in rural areas.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 4:08 PM on December 23, 2003

Sadly Miguel, you are not.

While there is a (sometimes flourishing) Canadian magazine industry, most mags tend to be focused on special interests like sportfishing or poetry. General interest magazines have either faded into semi-obscurity (Saturday Night), or become tired retreads of American drek like Time and Newsweek (see Maclean's).

If there is another Canadian magazine as smart as the Walrus, I haven't found it yet.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 6:57 AM on December 14, 2003

Wot? No MC5?
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 12:31 PM on November 19, 2003

Here's some inspirational statues for ya, gfrobe.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:50 AM on November 14, 2003

How DO we get rid of evil tyrants?
Would it have been moral to send in assassins to take out Saddam?

Saddam? I thought you guys were talking about Bush . . .
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:29 AM on November 12, 2003

Or, Veterans Day, for my American friends.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:36 AM on November 11, 2003

La Fin du Monde.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:23 PM on November 6, 2003

Thanks for a thought-provoking post, Miguel.

To think someone would disguise their accent is disgusting to anyone who is minimally fair-minded.

I agree with this statement in principle, but I do the exact opposite almost every day out of necessity.

I am a Canadian who works in a call centre (that's right folks, its `centre' not `center') for an American company. Every day I talk to Americans, and I... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:17 PM on November 6, 2003

PS. As a public service announcement to my fellow Canadians, I provide the following advice for speaking to Americans:

Just say "a-bay-out." It fools them every time.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:19 PM on November 6, 2003

These pitfalls seem more like pratfalls.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 12:05 PM on October 20, 2003

On Arnie's first day on the job,
Voted in by that daft west coast mob,
I thought: Have they been drinking?
Or, were Californians thinking
That he'd give each voter a plo chop?
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:33 AM on October 10, 2003

I usually try to resist commenting in these IraqWar threads, for the simple reason that jonmc mentioned: nothing ever gets resolved, and nobody's mind gets changed. Even a really interesting item about the war (that could potentially engender a worthwhile debate) becomes a stick to beat the other guy with.

However, in this case I think I'll make an exception.

All of you who support the war, or disagree with the war but support "the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 3:07 PM on September 20, 2003

Good one, Aaorn. My favourite bit?

laurent from paris:

hi i would like to know where i can buy tony hawks wears thanks

Tony Hawks:

Your English sentence is a poor one, all things considered. Perhaps a little more time doing English homework and a little less time arsing around on a skateboard might be the best course of action. What do you think?
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:40 AM on September 19, 2003

Ever wondered what happened to the real Jumbo?
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:36 AM on September 16, 2003

Yes Steve_at_Linwood, please elaborate. Is Canada a socialist country because we provide medicine to sick people?

Or perhaps because even the very poor are given medical treatment for free?

Beware our evil, socialist ways America. They could be contagious. . .
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:20 AM on September 16, 2003

Attention American taxpayers!

Stop questioning your leaders (and social betters).

Just shut up, and open your wallets.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 9:04 AM on September 9, 2003

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 10:26 AM on September 7, 2003

Cheeseburger kid has been denied food for one day. 20 Feet away is an In-N-Out burger. Between them however, is the Star Wars kid armed with his stick (non-light-saber), whose final jedi test is to protect the burger at all costs.

Who wins?

I don't know Stan, but I'm pretty sure that dignity loses.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 10:45 AM on August 29, 2003

Q: Is that shit on your moustache?

A: Foul language is the symbol of a weak intellect.

Zing!
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 10:06 AM on August 24, 2003

Hahahahahahahaha!

God is Santa Claus for adults.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 6:15 AM on August 23, 2003

Wesley Willis whupped rock n' roll's ass.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 11:53 AM on August 22, 2003

I love white people, but I hate rednecks.

(Apologies to Chris Rock.)
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 6:10 AM on August 17, 2003

We lacked the ability to deal with a rouge government (Iran)

Rouge government? No wonder they're in the axis of evil.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 12:25 PM on August 12, 2003

You can see some of Flashman's medals here.

I also have the honour of referencing Royal Flash; while it isn't a great film, Malcolm McDowell plays a good Harry Flashman (eerily similar to Alex from A Clockwork Orange in some ways).
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 5:21 AM on August 7, 2003

carfilhiot: good idea, but Canada has TEN provinces (and 3 territories). Unless you meant that California would split into three parts before joining us.

That would be ok as long as they had cool names.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 8:00 PM on July 21, 2003

Bruce Lee rules!
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 3:34 PM on July 21, 2003

As an english speaker, I believe that we should all be sensitive to the concerns of groups like the Academie Francaise and Alliance Francaise, and support their efforts to maintain a distinct language and culture.

At least as sensitive as they have been toward Corsican, Breton, Occitan and the other native languages of France.

More dead and dying languages can be found here.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 1:29 PM on July 7, 2003

Consider this yet another endosement for Sleeman, Creemore, and Big Rock (especially Grasshopper).

I'm a little surprised nobody has mentioned Upper Canada, although I know for a long time it was only available in Ontario. I believe that they're now owned by Sleeman, but they still make it right.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 1:05 PM on June 28, 2003

Haven't human beings been genetically modifying plants and animals for tens of thousands of years? Why all the fuss now?
And please don't tell me about how Mutant Food X may be linked to cancer. Isn't everything linked to cancer?
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 4:28 PM on June 24, 2003

Too right, th3ph17.

Don't disturb the hive.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 4:04 PM on June 24, 2003

Cultural sensitivity be damned. These guys are assholes.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 10:42 AM on June 14, 2003

For those who hate Hemingway and Faulkner, may I recommend John Dos Passos?

He's even worse.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 4:37 PM on May 25, 2003

He screwed up the classic joke.

Q: Why is American beer like having sex in a canoe?

A: They're both fucking close to water.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 10:25 AM on March 29, 2003

Postroad: If you prefer a slightly more left-wing (OK, centre-left) oriented site, try floating wreckage:jettisoned cargo.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 9:00 AM on February 24, 2003

By omitting the one about the lemon tree ("Lemon of Troy"), the do(h!)lts at Entertainment Weekly have lost a faithful subscriber for life.

That episode had it all: crazy Grandpa stories, Springfield-vs-Shelbyville, Bart leads Millhouse, Nelson et al. on a dirty-dozenesque mission, Homer commandeers Ned's RV, and very little Marge and Lisa.

Too many great lines to list?

"Who will come and live a life... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 6:48 AM on February 2, 2003

It seems that only Americans are still debating whether or not their country/civilization is an empire. The rest of the world has already decided you are. Your enemies certainly have . . .
And as for the "Europe is more of an empire than we are" argument, forget about it. They're simply scrambling to become some sort of counterweight to American power. I don't think I am alone in thinking that they have a long way to go. Still, Ignatieff makes a good point about the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 11:21 AM on January 5, 2003

shepd -- I'm a Canadian who takes the separatists insults personally as well. Don't think for a second that you're the only one.

Unfortunately the only voices that ever get heard in this debate are those of the separatists, and the flag-waving-we-love-you-quebec-so-please-don't-leave crowd in the Rest of Canada.

On the other hand, maybe its for the best if hardliners like myself keep quiet. After all, if we just ignore the people that are... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 10:30 AM on December 30, 2002

Why yes, yes I do.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 12:59 PM on December 18, 2002

I have to agree, the site is pretty cool.

Unfortunately I think the jury is still out on CBC Radio's attempt to attract younger listeners (ie. anyone under 50). I have listened to the Mother Corp since I was in high school, but I can't think of anyone else my age that does. It seems like they are trying harder to play "new" music (Canadian of course), but is it enough? Considering that most young people associate the Radio One with gardening call-in shows... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 1:33 PM on November 29, 2002

Canadian Comment:
I encourage all American Democrats to stay home and fight for the causes they believe in. We have too many left wingers here already.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 4:23 AM on November 6, 2002

Boo hoo hoo, so many hurt feelings. Has anyone realized that this episode is a gift for everyone involved?

Rohinton Mistry - gets lots of sympathy and publicity.

Chattering Leftists of Canada - get some more evidence to support their long-held belief that the United States is a horrible place populated by gun-toting, racist hicks.

Americans - avoid exposure to the windy, rambling (and boring) writings of Mr. Mistry.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 12:24 PM on November 3, 2002

I guess the Mounties always get their man, even if someone else gets him for them. This guy is screwed.
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 6:40 AM on November 3, 2002

As a subject of the Crown (Canadian), but not one whose taxes go to directly support the royals, I don't really have an opinion on the whole monarchy vs republicanism debate. However, I would like to pose a question to the Brits here -- do you think the money you shell out is outweighed by the boost the to the UK tourism industry? An awful lot of people visit the UK every year because of its monarchist attractions (ie. the changing of the guard, various palaces, etc.), and not just us... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 7:39 AM on November 1, 2002

In my neck of the woods (Southern Ontario) its also called Devil's Night. Unlike our neighbours in Michigan, we spend the evening pranking on neighbours (firecrackers, tp, etc.) rather than lighting fires. Much luck to my American friends though, and keep those fire extinguishers handy!
posted to MetaFilter by pooligan at 12:48 PM on October 30, 2002